Fallout Equestria: Desperados V3 (Bonds of Platinum)

Fallout: Equestria

Desperado’s V3: Bonds of Platinum

Ch 23, Faith, Part 4.

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Pewter's tent was a bit aways, and far from the crowds of ponies near the pier. The tent outside was decorated with skills and wooden talismans, with a ring of stones around the tent, each having a symbol carved into it. It overall gave a foreboding feeling, only made worse by the magic that radiated off of it all.

“Spooky.” Star said.

“Wouldn't the chosen have a problem with this?” I asked the stallion.

The old stallion just smiled. “Come on in and I'll explain, lady of Platinum blood.”

We did just that, entering the tent, and being hit with the strong smell of Eucalyptus incense, among other smells. The inside was fairly dark, making it hard to see, but I could make out at least four bookshelves filled to the brim with books and other oddities. Pewter cast a spell, and a little spark jumped to a candle, lighting it, then the flame jumped to another candle and another, filling the tent with light. Looking up, I could see a white pentagram painted on the ceiling of the tent, it radiating a soft and protective magic.

“It's safe to talk here, though you already said more than you should have.” Pewter told me. “But considering your situation, that's understandable.”

“Well, when your enemy has all the cards, you're left with only a few options.” I said back to him.

“As is life, but we can talk about that later. Since it will be taking our full attention all too soon. As for the Chosen and their views of the Secret priesthood, we Privateers have made sure the Chosen see our faith as an extension of their own. The Sanctified Cannons were, after all, founded for those porpoises, so that the clergy can keep us under their iron hoof.” The stallion then levitated a large bottle and several small glasses, placing them all on a nearby table. “Now I am sorry to drop all this on you when we have just met, but I'll be needing you to escort myself and my niece to Whinneapolis, not now of course, but after this mess is over.”

I was taken aback by the sudden request, and a bit confused. “Why?”

“I know why.” Slowtrot then spoke up. “It's the mall, right?”

Pewter nodded, “Molly Manticor Mega Mall, there's something there that has been left to rot for too long, and you, you are our key to it.” He then pointed at Fizzy, “same for you, avatar of Venus.”

Fizzy took a step back, looking nervous. “Y… you know!”

“The dread queen has sent me hints, but your magic is one I know well. Well, as far as I can remember, but you do feel like a vessel. Same for Lady Star Charter, first born of the first born, but your name alone is all I needed to hear to know what you are.”

“And that is?” Star asked.

Pewter smiled. “An Alginate of course. The name Star Charter isn't something any pony is given among the Privateers after all. Star Charter was also the name of a famous Oracle and priestesses of the Dead Queen in the Barbary Islands history. Legends say that even now she serves by the Dread Queens side, ever watching her direct descendant, and offering them aid when needed.”

Strangely, Star looked very serious, saying nothing.

“But, Barbary Islands history and mythology isint why you're here, and the details of my request can wait until this current matter is resolved.” Pewter told us as he poured everypony a drink, it smelled quite sweet and fairly strong of alcohol. “And am I to guess that the matter has become more serious, if you're willing to spill such secrets as being a Princess.”

He levitated me a glass, as I took a sip, the taste of it was exceptionally strong in its sweetness, and very high in alcohol. “Wow… this is… something?”

“It's a port wine, our family's specialty. One bottle can cost your average pony a leg or two.” Pewter told me as he then shot the small glass of port down his throat. “It's also good for placating spirits when they get upset for one reason or another.”

Finishing the small glass myself, I then got straight to business. “Yes, the situation is far worse than we assumed, and the longer we wait the more, Bishop Purity Spiral will gain power.”

“And she has formed a cult of Venus, and uses magic to control ponies.” Fizzy added.

“Her son, Utopian Vision, has been given the evil eye, as some other magical brahminshit.” Star also added.

We then looked at Slowtrot and Live, who then shrugged back at us before drinking their port.

“Venus is it, always the trouble maker. She may be the goddesses of love, beauty and fertility, but she's also the daughter of war and destruction. And wherever she goes, tragedy follows.” Pewter said with a nod. “Can you give me the details, I'd ask my niece, but it will be awhile before her mother is satisfied.”

“Yes, but… will Lair be okay?” I then asked.

The older stallion chuckled. “Nightfall may be harsh, and a bit impatient, but she still loves Lair dearly. Unfortunately, Lair doesn't fit into the role that her mother wished for her, so there is friction. It has taken a while, but their relationship has greatly improved from where it was when Lair was younger.”

I could only take his word for it, and then got to explaining What had happened at the church. Pewter had a few questions, wanting little details here and there, along with the song and what the priest said to Lair.

Pulling out a book, and flipping through the pages, he then foround. “Right, this might be what it was you had encountered.” Looking at the book, the writing was esoteric at best, b7t practically unreadable to me. “Sorry, I tend to forget that only a few can read such a script. But here describes what's called a gospel choir, one of many names it has, where through the power of joint song can ponies be entranced, and their magic intertwined. It's a natural magic which ponies possess, and greatly help ponies when working together. But those who can grasp such magic can then inject their own magic into it, even harvest it for other porpoises. Likely, Utopian Vision is using the evil eye to cast a charm spell into the song, and then through the gospel choir, spread the magic out.”

That sounded bad. “Any way to counter it?” Slowtrot asked. “I mean, the Ministries were always paranoid over the Zebras using mind controlling magic. Always keep an eye on your nabors for strange behavior. They'd tell us all the time. So I'm sure they had countermeasures.”

But Pewter shrugged. “Can't say we have anything useful for this situation. Maybe for one pony at a time, but that takes a long time to untangle a pony from such a spell. The main issue is that this magic uses one's own magic to control them, so it's like trying to convince a true believer that their god is false. I'm sorry to tell you, but this is a fucked up situation.”

“But there got to be something, like, ya know, a way to convince the mare to, like, go away?” Fizzy asked.

Laughter came from outside the tent. “Oh, but there is one thing.” It was a very feminine, yet off voice. trotting in was a mare in a very similar robe as Utopian, but with a bigger hat, finer cloth, and the symbols of Thorn's Chosen were clear and visible on her. She was an ashy gray bicorn mare, with a golden mane and tail wrapped in green and blue cloth, and silver horns and hooves. “Sorry, but I couldn't help but eavesdrop. As fun as it is to entertain the fair Bishop, I can't help but find old hag boring.”

“It's rude to barge in, Bishop Pitch Blackheart.” Pewter said gruffly.

“And I don't care, high priest Pewter Darkheart of the secret priesthood.” She said to him as Pitch trotted to me. “And you… no, not my type.”

I then remembered what Azure told me, and that this Bishop wasn't a mare… yet he was the most mare looking stallion I had ever seen, even his makeup could rivle sister Silk. “Ahhh… sorry to disappoint?”

Pitch rolled his eyes at me. “What a shame, I was hoping for… more than that.”

“Umm… miss, you said there was something we could do?” Fizzy asked.

He studied Fizzy, laicking his lips befor shaking his head. “No, not you either.” He then passed by Star and up to Slowtrot. “Oh, I always like the shaggy ones, what do you say?”

I felt something off, magic flowing from him to Slowtrot, I was about to step in, yet Pitch's magic then became erratic, causing him to step back. “Well, I guess that's a no.”

Clearing my throat, I repeated Fizzy’s question. “Sir Blackheart, can you answer the question? What can we do to stop, Purity Spiral?”

The Bishop let out a sigh as he turned to look at me. “Alright, if you really want to know, then it's simple. Just give the bitch what she wants.”

“Brahmanshit!” Live and Star blurted out.

I took a deep breath instead. “Please, good Bishop, explain to us. How is giving, Purity Spiral, what she wants, going to help us?”

Pitch Blackheart laughed as he trotted over to a bed, only to be stopped by Pewter, then turned back to us. “Right, well I guess you don't quite see the advantage of it, I mean, the bitch isn't going to charge up into that tomb if she can just trot in peacefully. Less ponies, less chaos, and so much more… boring.”

“I get that, but how does this help us?” I said again.

Trotting over to me, the mare looking stallion rubbed my cheek with his hoof. “Oh, but that's up to you. Only a fool would trot into such a situation without several backup plans. Never go off alone with an enemy without a dagger, gun, and sniper watching your back. I like to keep a bomb or two on me as well. Nothing says don't fuck with me like mutualy ensured slaughter.”

That… sadly made a lot of sense.

Pitch then smiled. “Oh there it is, the gears are turning, and a murder is brewing.”

“But what about the civilians? I'm sure, Purity Spiral has contingencies." I further asked.

A look of disappointment fell on Pitch's face. “Seriously, why worry about the poor fools who can't care for themselves. Are you so weak that you can't bear a bit of death?”

I glared at the stallion. “It's not weakness, but compation!”

“It's no use.” Pewter said. “If what you told us is true, then Bishop Purity Spiral has set the board in her favor, and you're either going to have to abandon this city, or sacrifice lives to save it.”

“That's how it works among the clergy. You don't gain any ground unless you're willing to spill a lot of blood.” Pitch said softly. “That's how Thorn Redrum set things up, so that her followers don't become soft and complacent. Oh how I loathe the Redrums and their distasteful hobbies.”

“Seriously.” Star huffed out. “Are there any of you who actually believe in your religion?”

“Of course not, true faith in Thorn only runs among the ignorant lower classes. For ponies like me, and ponies like Purity, it's all a game of power.” Pitch said flippantly.

“Or ponies like my mother and sister, who despite their personality, are pure of heart, and very trusting.” Lair said with a sneer as she trotted. “Now if you would, Pitch, go fuck off and keep an eye on Bishop bitch.”

A wide smile formed on Pitch's face as he trotted over to Lair. “Oh what a wonderful dress, you look adorable.” He then attempted to touch her, but Lair slapped his hoof away. He then tried again, only to get his hoof slapped away one more time. “How rude, is this how you treat your fiancee.”

“Fuck off freek!” Lair growled as they began slapping at each other's hooves like a retarded game of paddy cake.

Trotting over to Pewter, I had to ask, “is that… normal?”

The older stallion sighed. “Yes, this is normal. The two have very dominant personalities, so they don't quite get along. At least they're not shouting at each other.”

“Then why are they engaged?” I further asked.

“Politics.” Pewter said. “It's to ensure the Blackhearts keep control over the Darkheart’s, along with the secret priesthood. It was either Hollow or Lair that would marry Pitch, and Lair loves her sister too much to giver her to that sadist.”

Looking at the two, though they didn't seem to like each other, they didn't seem to outright hate each other. “So, nothing new under the sun then.”

“Eyep.” Pewter said as he watched the little fight. “Anyways, you should consider Pitch's advice. The clergy are cutthroats, and if anypony would know how they think, it would be one of them. We want Purity Spiral gone just as much as you all do, it's sadly just a calculation of how much you're willing to sacrifice to do it.”

“Is that what the Secret priesthood did? That Blessed Spears priest said they burnt down your temples.” I asked.

“Sacrifices must always be made to secure the future.” Pewter said solemnly, then pulled back the blanket of the bed, revealing a little filly with obsidian horns, who couldn't be a year or two older than Star’s Daughter. “Though the Dread Queens are indifferent to our suffering, she respects those who protect the next generation. Those who were killed by Thorn had sacrificed themselves so that the young could carry on the torch. Now we play Thorn’s little game, but once the music fades and the dancers collapse, we will remain, still passing on the old ways.”

“I… I understand that. But I'd rather not let her into my ancestor’s tomb.” I said, uncertainty in my voice. “The destruction she could cause, not just to the city, but to my family's legacy.”

“A legacy is only what you hold dear. Everything else is just… history to be misinterpreted.” He then smiled, reminding me of my own father, who just like Pewter, I barely knew. “I can't say what is the right answer for you, as I have my own family to protect. But I can say that those who wish us harm, want us to avoid risk, to find the safe and easy path, then never stray from it. Makes us predictable, and easily controlled. By the time you notice you're in danger, the noose has already been fitted around your neck.”

I hate to admit it, but there was a point there. The only reason we were in this mess was because Quicktrot Fragment knew where we'd be heading, and likely told Bishop Purity Spiral. Traps are easy to set when you know where your target is going. Then again, Purity could have been already doing this for some other plan, and we just fell into it.

All the same, we were here.

The bicorns were an odd group of ponies, each one feeling wicked in their own right, but not evil. More that they were molded for much harder lives, lives that couldn't ignore weakness. The Desperados were much of the same, molded by the harsh wasteland, and embracing it. Mother molded me for the harshness that was life as a noble, where every move I made, every word I said was scrutinized, never knowing if my next meal would be poisoned.

But this was no different then when I trotted willingly into Silver Majesty trap, my elder sister wanted me gone, and I was too cowardly to just end it all myself. If I had not done that, then the Pirates wouldn't have discovered life on the islands, but then Vibraphone would not have been sent out to find me, and she would not have guided the Enclave to safety. Then I would never have met my father, or knew the truth about him and mother.

How much harm or good have I done? I might never know. But letting Purity Spiral gain power here would doom this city, I knew that for certain.

“If I were to give Purity what she wants, how do I turn it in my favor?” I asked the stallion.

“From my experience, it often involves turning the object of desire into the trap itself.” He said with a smirk. “Once I tampered with a mind control device that a rival of mine wanted, wiping the memory of everypony in the room, my own included. Left myself a note on how to find a pony I could trust, and to leave the others with me behind to die.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. “All your memories?”

He nodded. “I have memory orbs to help fill in what I've forgotten, among other tricks.”

“But… why?” I then asked.

He glanced over at Lair, then over at the filly in bed, before returning to look at me. “There are things I value more than myself, or my memories. All that I lost, I would lose eventually with age, but they will carry on, and through them the future is assured.” Pewter then pointed over at Pitch. “He may not be the best pony to take advice from, but I assure you, he knows what needs to be done to win.”

Taking a deep breath, I had to accept that my opinions were few, and I was going to need to put my faith in ponies I just met.

Trotting over to the two fighting Bicorns, both looking ready to start actually attacking each other, I cleared my throat to get their attention. “Good Bishop Pitch Blackheart, is it alright if we talked.” I then glanced back at my friends. “Alone.”

The Bishop smiled at me, it having a hint of cruel curiosity that reminded me of my eldest sister. “Oh, it's more than alright, I was starting to get bored of this company. None are my type as it is.”

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Leaving the tent in silence, I found two priests and one red robed mare waiting for us, none saying anything as we trotted. I didn't want to start pelting the stallion with questions, and he knew what I was going to ask, so there wasn't any need for words. As we trotted, the amount of ponies in the area decreased, along with the noise, until it was all a soft background mer mer.

Before me then laid a graveyard, a nearby pillar with the inscription of, “Here lies the heroes of Umberfoal, bringing justice for those unjustly slain.”

“A monument to the second Desperados Ranger war.” I said as I looked over at the field of gravestones.

“We have similar practices among the Privateers.” Pitch said. “Not keeping the bodies, no, we give them away to the deep below. But carving their name in stone, in that we honor their memories.” He then glanced at me with cold eyes that had clearly looked into the abyss. “Though my role in this faith may be but a puppet show, Iaam still expected to do my duty, and guid the souls to righteousness. To honor the dead, and bless in new life. That is where we gain our power, afterall.”

“You mean…” I began to ask, but Pitch let out a huff.

“No, nothing like magic, or the things Pewter can do.” He said bitterly. “It's all political theater, and through the faith of the masses, we are granted great influence. But we must all play our role, or a new pony of faith must replace us.”

I was starting to understand. “Purity Spiral included?”

“How do you think that dumb bitch became a Bishop? Oh, by no means was it through hard work and faith, that I can assure you.” he then chuckled in an all too feminine way that made me nearly forget that he was a, he. “When I was but an acolyte, Purity's daughter, a Dystopian Vision, was a sensor of mine, and a known bastard of archbishop. She was fortunately raised by her grandmother, the previous Bishop, and hated her mother with a passion. So a lot of Purity Spiral's darker secrets managed to make it down the grape vine. Such as how Purity Spiral was a considerable slut, and had fucked her way into power… which isn't all that unusual for the clergy, the issue was that she got pregnant, and with a pony that didn't want a foal… twice.”

“Great, more debortuary, and how does this help us?” I asked.

“I'm getting there, little zony.” He said mockingly. “Well, Purity's good old mother was the former Bishop of the Blessed Spears, a position that would have been given to Dystopian due to Purity's problematic personality. And I mean, a very problematic personality. But it seemed that somepony with considerable power thought differently. A pony that rather has a Bishop they can control over one that they might not be able to control. And there is your wedge.”

“That Purity Spiral isn't a real Bishop, but a puppet Bishop?” I answered questionly.

“Oh, nothing hurts us members of the Clergy more than having our pride be chipped away at. Or to stir decent in the ranks, then having your faith in question.” Pitch said as he trotted over to the mare in the red robe. “Say, sister Sprocket, if I wasn't properly ordained, would that be a problem?”

A metal claw shot out of the robe, stopping right before Pitch's muzzle, and the mare then spoke in the most guttural accident I had heard yet. “I'd ripped yar throat out for being a dirty heretic, giving false blessing upon the holy tools in which the prophet had so mercifully gifted us.” As she spoke, her brown seaweed like main flopped out, it somehow wet. Reviewing herself to be a kelpie, the mare pulled her mane back in, which showed a crude cybernetic eye that seemed to be bolted to her skull. “I'd do it for yar blaspheming if yar weren't ordained by the pope himself.”

Pitch looked back at me with a wide smile. “And there it is. The heart of the matter.”

“So… if I can put Purity's faith in question, then the Blessed Spears might turn on her?” I guessed.

“Unlikely.” One of the priests spoke up. “But a loss of confidence would slow any work she is trying to do, and possibly get an inquiry from an inquisitor.”

“Inquisitors aren't notoridly dogged when investigating another member of the clergy.” the other priest said.

Pitch then sighed. “Unfortunately, they don't take inquiries from those from other sects and denominations seriously, only from within.”

“Because if they did, you'd all do it to each other.” I commented. “But it was clear that Purity doesn't follow your faith… unless her being ordained is all that matters.”

“That-a-girl, nail on head!” Pitch said as he clapped his hooves together “legitimately is what matters, and so long as we have the blessings of our pope, we are nearly untouchable. So that begs the question, how does one put a bishop's legitimacy into doubt? How do you shake the bitch into dropping her guard?”

So that was my in, driving a wedge between Purity Spiral and the Blessed Spears. As far as I knew, Purity Spiral's gang was two… no three factions of its own. Her cult of Venus, the Blessed Spears, and the Corps Brigade.

The Corps Brigade!

“That's it! The Corps Brigade were purged from the grand fleet, could that cause a problem for Purity?” I then asked.

Pitch looked both surprised and a bit annoyed. “Realy, a solution already. I was hoping you'd be tormented by the question for days, and maybe beg to suck my cock for more advice.”

“Answer my fucking question!” I demanded.

That got a smirk from the Bishop. “it may, but I've heard nothing of this. The grand fleet is a Buccaneer fleet after all, not worth much attention from their betters.”

“But the Blessed Spears are Buccaneers after all. And so is the Corps Brigade.” I pointed out.

He raised an eyebrow. “And any proof of this? You can't possibly have been there?”

This time I smirked. “Not when it happened, no. But Victoria herself confirmed that she lost all communication with them. Was rather upset about it too, and since I happened to be aboard the Weeping Pegasus before it happened, I do have an idea of what likely happened.”

Pitch nodded as he thought. “The Weeping Pegasus you say, That is the Blessed Spears ship, if my memory serves me right. Not an all that famous ship, but one that was regularly an escort ship for the Pope, due to the Blessed Spears once serving directly under Thorn herself. If Purity Spiral lost that ship, it would be a massive scandal. That is, if you have evidence.”

“Order!” I commanded, and my drone floated over to us. A buzzing sound then came from the mare in red as she practically vibrated as she watched Order. “Do you have the recordings from the Weeping Pegasus, or from Victoria?”

Order bobbed his body in confirmation. “My original programming has me set on auto record of all audio, and compressed for later investigations.”

Beeping several times, his audio fizzled for a moment before a tinny audio of a stallion speaking. “Bellies growling in hunger, bodies ravaged by sickness, and muscles pushed beyond by tireless work. I know you feel this pain, as we all feel it, as I too feel it…” right, it was the sermon that priest had given aboard the Weeping Pegasus. The audio continued as ponies talked amongst each other. The deep voice if the griffing inquisitor, Iron Wing, Carving Dolls guttural accent, and my nephew's boasting about our family's superiority.

“Miss Vibraphone Echo.” It was Iron Wing calling out my friend. “So this advanced technology, I do hope it's not just mostly well maintained stable-tec gizmos.”

My gut wretched as I heard Vibraphone speak, answering the Griffin's questions, not having any choice but to tell him what she knew. “Maintained stable-tec materials is to be expected, Orthrus use to be Stable-Tec long ago. But since then, things have changed. You…”

“Order, enough!” I commanded. “Play the audio of Red Steel's deal with me.”

That got Pitch to raise an eyebrow.

Red's voice cut through clearly, sending a cold shiver down my spine. “Alright princess, since I like you, why don't we make an agreement. You play along with me, and maybe…”

Closing my eyes I remembered it all clearly. “...we can come to a deal.” Red said as Vibraphone was being dragged away after receiving a blow to the back of her head. Red Steel stood confidently, her crimson gown hiding any bloodstain on her, along with her weapons she kept hidden underneath. “What about it?”

“Wh… what deal?” I asked hesitantly, a gunshot in the distance causing me to flich. Was it a maid who just died, a guard, or a cousin of mine, I dreaded to find out, and deeply wished nopony else would die today.

Red pulled out a fan to hide her muzzle, the one Silk used all the time. Oh Celestia, please be alright. “You help me take over all this, and I keep you on as an advisor.” Moving the fan a little, I could see a malevolent grin. “Trust me, I never had any intention of all this death. But, Carving Doll really wanted a fight.”

“You murdered my brother!” I growled.

“Oh please, how was I supposed to know he was real royalty and not just some local self proclaimed royalty. Anyways, only a fool would keep such a murder happy pony at your back. I should know after all.” She then poked my cheek with my sister's fan. “But hay, I have learned from my mistakes, and managed to keep a few of you alive.”

“Silk Carnation?” I asked.

Red nodded and let the fan drop to the ground before stomping on it. “But I don't need to keep all of you alive, just enough of you to give me legitimacy. To make sure the population stays placid. That said, I can even give you a choice of who I keep. Like, maybe the annoying cripple. You two seem to really love each other after all.”

I bit my tongue, not wanting to cures more than I have, Silver betrayed us all, and for this. “Fine, just don't hurt Silk, she's harmless, and a good negotiator when she tries. So I'll play along, for whatever you need me to do.”

“Good girl, I had a feeling you'd understand. That damn cripple wouldn't stop making demands, as though she has all the power.” Red then levitated one of her derringers, motioning it under my chin. “You all may be super magical, but… there's ways around that.”

“Now once the ship belongs to me, and I have the full backing of my mother, we'll be quite busy with bringing this island under my new banner.” Red’s voice spoke through Order as I opened my eyes.

The audio cut off, and Pitch was left rubbing his chin. “Now… that is some strong evidence. Along with the news of Red Steel's rise to becoming a Duchess over on the Marewaii Islands, then this lines up quite well.”

“But how will it help me?” I asked, still grasping at straws. “Even without the Blessed Spears, Purity still has the Corps Brigade.”

Pitch waved that off dismissively. “Of no concern. None at all. The important thing is the damage to Purity's reputation. Once her status as Bishop is in doubt, she'll lose any control over anypony until she can reasert her position. This also means the power imbalance between her and the Corps Brigade will shift, and Purity may find herself on the wrong end of the cutlass. Now, when you do this matters the most, as I suspect that Purity isn't going to be as trusting of the Corps Brigade as she is to the Blessed Spears.”

“And when she goes to take whatever relic she's after, she's not going to take many, if any, of the Corps Brigade with her.” I pondered out loud. “Since they answer to Victoria, not her.”

The red robed mare trotted in-between us. “Forgive my rudeness Bishop but may I take this mare and the most holy of tech. It behooves us to work quickly, or risk losing this window of opportunity”

“Do it, but be quiet about it Wrench Mare. You make too much noise as it is.” Pitch told the mare. “Oh, and Princess. I do look forward to working with each other.”

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